American Entertainment 1982

"Who can tell me, what is the dream of a TV personality?"

On the roof terrace on the third floor of the BT TV headquarters, Tommy turned around, leaned his back on the guardrail, took a cup of coffee handed to him by Sophia, and looked gently at the four white men who fell within his sight range Men and women, a question has been asked.

The four looked at each other, some hesitated to speak, some shrugged, but no one answered the question.

After waiting for dozens of seconds and no one answered, Tommy laughed: "Congratulations for giving the correct answer. If any of you were going to talk to me about bullshit dreams just now, I will ask Sophia to tell him how to go faster." to go through the resignation procedures.”

"I know that some of you graduated from the University of Southern California, the University of California, etc., majoring in media, TV production, etc., so you should realize what kind of bargain you have picked up." Tommy sighed and turned to everyone. Spread out your hands:

"My black friend, Mr. Wolf Tucker, spent nearly a year building BT TV station for me from scratch, public relations, various approvals, management systems, market analysis, audience surveys, etc. Let's put it this way, except for his shortcoming of having a dream, he is simply impeccable. Therefore, I exchanged my dreamy program production idea for him to help me complete the BT TV station. Now, the precious thing he left The legacy will be left in its entirety to you, my black friends, who have done the hardest preliminary work for you."

"I think individual communication will show that I attach more importance to you." He paused, then raised his head again: "Let me introduce myself, Tommy Hawke, the owner of this TV station, so, who will come first? "

"Rick, Rick Luthor, Mr. Mark Warren told me that I will be the senior vice president in charge of programming of this TV station." A white man with reddish-brown curly hair who looks about 30 years old, Seeing that the others didn't intend to be the first to speak, he took the initiative to say: "I used to be the production director of Live Color Adult Entertainment Company."

"Sophia, accompany the other three to chat about the weather and other topics, and give me and this Mr. Luthor a little space to communicate alone." After Tommy finished speaking to Sophia, he looked at Rick Luthor:

"I read all your materials on the flight back to California, and I remember them deeply. You majored in film and television production at the School of Film and Television, University of Southern California. You are a natural talent for film and television programming. It's just that your former stupid boss and alumni don't know the goods. That's all."

...

"The days of getting those customers to pay for our movies as long as men and women performed in front of the camera are over, and the industry has begun another period of survival of the fittest." Steve Hill says:

"The golden age of small movies has passed. A few simple scenes and a few actors can no longer make customers have the urge to buy movies home. The emergence of home video recorders is impacting this fragile industry. Look at Japan. How cheap is the video recorder? Almost everyone can afford it. They just need to set up a video recorder at home, and they can shoot their own small movies. What’s the difference? The same simple scene, the same posture and action, Why should you buy from us?"

Steve Hill looked at the project plan for this year that Rick Luther handed over to him in his hand: "So, you are going to persuade me to let our company increase costs like Hollywood film companies, and make real movies. A movie with a storyline?"

"Yes, we need to attract customers with factors other than the body. We reduce production, but increase quality. Before we could release seven movies a week, but I think now, maybe we can slow down and finish one movie a month. A high-quality small film to prove the difference between Live Color and other small film companies that have no pursuit." Rick sat opposite Steve and said seriously.

Steve glanced at the text on the plan: ""This is not the Terminator", the label written on it is science fiction? A small science fiction movie? Are you crazy? You can't continue to let your team shoot Beach, villa?"

"The Terminator is a good movie, three years after its first release, there are still a lot of second-run theaters showing it, and it's still a hit on videotape rental stores, I see this During the movie, there was a question, what would it look like if a robot used his metal cue to fuck a woman, I guess I am not the only one who is curious, there must be other people who are also full of curiosity." Rick heard the boss ask Get up and say confidently.

He believes that his thinking will definitely make the company's new movie a hit. Who can refuse an adult version of "Terminator"?

""Snow White and the Seven Black Men", "The Last Man in the World", "1VS100 Physical Breakthrough"..." The boss finished reading the plan that Rick handed to him with a face full of pain, and then stared at Rick and said:

"You don't want to prove the company, but to bury the company. Snow White may not trouble the company, but the copyright company of "Terminator" and "1VS100 Intellectual Breakthrough" allows us to spend the years of hard work. Spit out all the money, maybe eventually go bankrupt and close the business.”

"Everything seems specious. There will be no characters with the copyright of the other party. You just need to let the audience understand. You don't need to point it out. I won't give the other party any chance to trouble us. I will avoid all risks." Rick heard The boss was concerned, and immediately said:

"Otherwise, we will still make those simple movies that have no plot, and sooner or later we will be eliminated by the market."

"Did you know? You were eliminated first." The boss threw his plan back to Rick like garbage: "I'll give you a long vacation, you can use this time to prepare a new plan for me, Or, use it to get a new job, we're a little movie in the San Fernando Valley, not a big Hollywood movie, and we're all about the body."

"Maybe your company will be closed before my vacation is over." Rick picked up the proposal, sighed, finally pulled away the chair, got up and walked outside.

...

"You haven't read the programming proposals of BT TV before, have you?" Tommy asked Rick.

Rick Luthor shook his head and stroked his shaggy red hair with his hands: "I only know that this TV station wants to attract black audiences, but I don't know anything else, no one talks to me about any programming or anything topic."

"Very good, because those previous plans were useless. I designed about thirty or so program plans, all of which were...Wolf-Tucker's favorite garbage. He is black, but he is no longer strictly speaking. It’s black.” Tommy took a sip of coffee and said frankly:

"But I hope you've read the data from the dozen or so surveys that Wolf Tucker and his team have done for BT."

"BT TV previously launched 17 TV program surveys targeting the majority of low-income black groups in California. I have read all the data." Rick nodded: "Those surveys are done very well."

"Otherwise, why do you think I pay them?" Tommy said as a matter of course when he heard Rick's praise for the survey data, and then asked, "What do you want to say?"

"The low-level black people prefer programs that satisfy their voyeuristic and expressive desires. All the survey data actually point to these two points." Rick rubbed his chin lightly with his hands, thought for a moment, and then said to Tommy:

"In fact, human beings are born with the desire to voyeuristically, but because of self-discipline, morality, or even good education, people of other classes can suppress and control their own desires, except for those at the bottom. If they are self-disciplined, they will not be reduced to the bottom , so their desire for voyeurism is the strongest, and if they want to see it, we will show them to satisfy their desire and show them what they can't see in reality but often fantasize about."

"I agree with that." Tommy nodded in satisfaction.

To be honest, the first time Mark showed him this guy's profile, he was pleased with Rick's arrival, number one, he's a pro, a USC film and television production graduate, number two, it's the eighties, Small movies are not as exaggerated as later generations, but this guy has already thought of improving small movies to avoid simplification and audience fatigue. This shows that he has his own judgment on the market, will not follow the trend, and knows what kind of programs to make to adapt No matter whether his programs can really adapt to the market, but just because he is good at thinking about it, he is already much better than many solidified industry practitioners.

Rick continued: "Secondly there is the desire to show off, what do low-level black men and women care about? A hairstyle that makes other people wow, cheap but nice clothes, shiny shoes, if they have any of the three I said , believe me, he will be willing to show off to everyone, in order to win everyone's jealous eyes and get great satisfaction."

"As well as a greedy heart that is completely out of proportion to one's own status. The lower the bottom, the more greedy. In fact, when I read the survey data that Miss O'Connor gave me, I couldn't help but have a guess. Now it's just I want to confirm." Rick looked at Tommy and asked tentatively.

Tommy put down his coffee cup and asked him, "What's the question?"

"Did BT TV never think about targeting all black groups? Those high-income and middle-class blacks are not our audience at all, or that BT TV only focuses on the bottom blacks with the largest group base." Rick looked straight at Tang Mi, expressed his inner guess.

Tommy nodded slightly, and said in a flat tone: "I don't deny it, because the black base of other classes is too small, they are not the main force of the ratings. Considering the ratings, this is indeed the case."

"Because I think the traits of voyeurism and desire for performance will make those black people with good families not like the style of our TV station." Rick scratched his hair and said to Tommy: "Black people with good families, most of them I will subconsciously avoid watching programs that low-level black people like. When I was studying in college, I knew this problem from my black classmates.”

Tommy nodded: "Based on your summary of voyeuristic desire, performance desire and greed of the bottom black group, do you have anything to say about the programming of the TV station? Just chat, anyway, we have a lot of time."

"Use the "Prime Time Restriction Regulations" to stand firm during prime time. Although there are 24 hours in a day, we only have one hour of opportunity." Rick said with affirmative tone: "Every independent TV station wants to grab some ratings , snatching a group of fixed users, all start from this precious hour."

The "Prime Time Restriction Regulations" that Rick talked about is a regulation on the television industry formulated by the Federal Communications Commission of the United States in 1970 in order to restrict the three major television networks. That is, 7:30-8:00 p.m. Western time. From 10:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Eastern time is one hour earlier), all TV stations affiliated to the American TV network are not allowed to rebroadcast during these two time periods The programs of the parent company must be filled with self-produced or separately purchased programs. Even if a wonderful American drama produced by the parent company has not been finished, at this point in time, it must be forced to switch to a self-made program and wait for the prime time. When it's over, let's continue playing the American drama.

This regulation was established to prevent those large-scale TV networks from completely monopolizing the TV industry. Otherwise, a large-scale TV network such as ABC and CBS would produce a large-scale investment drama and broadcast it simultaneously on dozens of affiliated TV stations across the United States. It is impossible to give independent TV stations any way to survive, so the existence of this regulation is to provide opportunities for these small independent TV stations in the United States to compete. Although there are not many opportunities, only one precious hour, as long as they are willing to produce wonderful self-made programs , You can use this hour to let the audience remember the name of your own TV station.

"From 7:30 to 8 o'clock, we have a chance, from 10:30 to 11 o'clock in the evening, we have a chance, I think it is not as good as the first chance, we design a performance program, the second Opportunity is a more daring voyeuristic program, step by step."

Seeing that Tommy didn't respond, Rick continued: "Let me give you an example, we can design an indoor reality show called "Hair Wars" or something, find those black hair stylists in California, and let the bottom Black people sign up to participate in the program, and the hair stylist will help them design their hairstyles, let the audience score and choose the most cool hairstyle in the audience, and then give the hair stylist and his model partner a bonus, this is the combination of performance desire and greed, black People will want to know what is a cool enough hairstyle from our show, and they will sign up enthusiastically, after all, if they are selected, they can get a hairstylist to design their hair for free, and more importantly, they can appear on TV.”

"I said you are a genius in programming, that's how it is. A good idea can give people room to diverge." After listening to Rick's words, Tommy thought about it seriously:

"According to your idea now, I think a little change, maybe the effect will be better. For example, change your idea to a confrontation between black hair stylists on the east and west coasts? We create conflicts, expand conflicts, attract attention, and increase ratings. It can even continue to generate other duels, such as tattoo artist duels, such as singer duels. If there is a good idea, I think there must be an independent TV station on the east coast who is willing to talk to us about the broadcasting rights of the program on the east coast, or even jointly organize it. Think about it, the two TV stations seem to support one side, but in fact they share the advertising fees together, and even charge the hair stylists, tattoo artists, and singers. When the program is famous enough, they want to appear on the program. To play for the East Coast or the West Coast, we need to pay us a fortune."

"It's obviously more attractive to join the regional confrontation, but, maybe it will cause some off-field conflicts, I mean the black street gang problem on the east and west coasts..." Rick said to Tommy.

Tommy said lightly: "That's a social security issue, what does it have to do with us? We're just making an attractive enough show."

"That's true. We shouldn't think about this issue. If you think this idea is good, I can follow this idea to prepare for the preliminary work including planning, team, and budget." Rick saw that Tommy didn't care. , and did not continue to say more.

Tommy picked up a cigarette, lit one, and looked at Rick: "Actually, I was thinking, would it be better to produce and broadcast a voyeuristic program in the first prime time, such as... a program called "" Me and the Moms of All My Kids" show? Of course, the name can be adjusted, but the meaning is like this, let's find a famous black rapper or actor or NBA star who got rich overnight, he has many women, many different women gang The child he gave birth to, we show the lifestyle of this black successful man getting along with women and children. On the surface, the theme seems to promote family affection, but in fact, we designed a script for him. I want to let black audiences see his life, I understand that if black people have money, their lives are too comfortable, there are lots of beauties, the garage is full of luxury cars, and there is no problem raising a dozen children..."

"Why put it in the first time slot? It sounds like there is no problem with the second time slot." Rick didn't comment on the idea of ​​the program, but asked Tommy curiously why he put it in the first prime time slot .

Tommy exhaled smoke and said to Rick: "Do you know what kind of program I plan to produce in the second period? A popular science program, the name may be called "Ultimate Gun Changer" or "The First Gun in Life" Find a few owners of gun shops in California, and teach the audience how to modify firearms, where to buy cheap firearms, and how to use waste weapons and other knowledge.”

"Although firearms-related popular science programs are indeed very common, your program arrangement... This is a way that only devils can come up with..." Rick couldn't help but widen his eyes when he heard Tommy's words:

"You keep telling the low-level black people in front of you, look, how wonderful life is after having money, a dozen women line up to help you have children, and you are obedient to you, and then tell them how to quickly have money. Is money... More black robberies doing TV any good?"

"Of course it's not beneficial to the TV station, it's only beneficial to the bank. Rich black people will save their money in the bank to avoid being robbed." Tommy looked at Rick innocently:

"Listen, I made this proposal because I feel that we can't just sell entertainment, but also have some popular science programs that help black friends acquire knowledge and change their lives."

Rick looked at his boss, who was much younger than himself, and said weakly: "You redefine the three phrases of helping black people, acquiring knowledge, and changing fate. I even doubt that the black TV station you founded is to provide entertainment programs for Black people, or black people as entertainment."

"Speaking of this, I am also aware of this problem. It seems that the taste of entertainment is too heavy. We still need to have some humanistic care in it. I thought of a program idea that is warm and full of humanistic care." Tommy seemed to suddenly remember He had an idea and said to Rick.

Rick looked at Tommy suspiciously. After a short contact with him, he felt that his boss might not know what humanistic care is: "What idea?"

Tommy rubbed his hands excitedly: "We will arrange private detectives to help black children in single-parent families find their fathers living in every corner of the United States, and follow them all the way. I want to see the bright smiling faces of the children and mother, and see the father Moved to tears."

"Are you sure that the father shed tears of emotion?" Rick looked desperately at his boss's obviously excited face, and asked.

Tommy said to Rick: "Whether he is touched or not, anyway, the children and mothers will thank us, and the audience can also gloat in front of the TV."

"So, what's the name of this show that scares all black men who haven't taken protective measures?" Rick nodded numbly and asked.

Tommy said the name of the show: "A black-only show, "Daddy America."

Thank you Tony for being the leader of the chief boss for the reward. To be honest, I really want to take the time to repay the leaders for updates. If I remember correctly, I already owe four leaders for updates... Adding updates is very good, can you add more Earning manuscript fees, but my problem is that it has been difficult recently. The influenza A epidemic has caused three of the four members of my family to fall down, and I am the only one who is still holding on. I am on the way to and from the hospital and home every day.

Forgive me a lot~ I will pay it back~